Lapping machines



Aug. 23, 1955 H. s. INDGE 2,715,800

LAPPING MACHINES Original Filed July 25, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet. l

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Zhwemtoz, HERBERT 5. INDGE Aug. 23, 1955 H. s. INDGE LAPPING MACHINES 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 23, 1948 gnaw/tom HERBERT 5. INDGE i,5 Mums "IIIIII Aug. 23, 1955 H. s. INDGE 2,715,800

LAPPING MACHINES Original Filed July 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I uao l3mm HERBERT 5. [Moss Aug. 23, 1955 H. s. INDGE LAPPING MACHINES OriginalFiled July 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 3m HERBERT 5. INDGE n M en g- 23,1955 H. s. lNDGE 2,715,800

LAPPING MACHINES Original Filed July 23, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 f v' -rmFigll HERBERT S, INDGE Muwm United States Patent LAPPING MACHINESHerbert S. Indge, Westhoro, Mass, assignor to Norton Company, Worcester,Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Continuation of application SerialNo. 40,299, July 23, 1948. This application December 7, 1951, Serial No.260,428

4 Claims. (Cl. 51118) The invention relates to lapping machines and moreparticularly to a lapping machine for lapping tapered work pieces suchas taper rollers and the like. This application is a continuation ofapplication Serial No. 40,299 filed July 23, 1948, now abandoned.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and thoroughlypractical lapping machine for lapping tapered work pieces. Anotherobject is to provide a machine for simultaneously lapping a taper and anend face on taper rollers. Another object is to provide a taper rolllapping machine in which the upper lapping element is positivelyrotated, the lower lapping element is free to rotate and the cage ispositively rotated at a very slow speed.

A further object is to provide a lapping machine in which the workpieces to be lapped are automatically fed into the work cage and make asingle circular pass through the machine after which they areautomatically discharged therefrom. Another object of the invention isto provide a suitable truing apparatus for truing a frustoconical faceon cf the lapping elements. Another object is suitable adjustment forthe truing apparatus to facilitate adjusting the angle of the faceproduced on the lapping element. Another object is to provide a truingapparatus and a driving mechanism for positively rotating the lowerlapping element while truing a frusto-conical face thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide end lapping elementswhereby the end faces of the work being lapped are lapped simultaneouslywith the lapping of the tapered surface thereon. Other objects will bein part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, as will beexemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described, and the scopeof the application of which will be indicated in the following claims:

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possibleembodiments of the mechanical feature of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved lapping machine, partly insection showing the driving mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a hydraulic diagram of the mechanism for moving the upperlapping element;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the lapping machine, partly broken awayand shown in section to clarify the construction;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan View, on an enlarged scale, of the lappingelements and work cage, showing the relationship of the parts;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale,through the lower portion of the machine, showing the lower lappingwheel truing apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, throughthe apparatus for lapping the ends of the work pieces;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, taken approximatelyon the line 77 of Fig. 6;

2,715,306 Fatented Aug. 23, 1955 Fig. 8 is a fragmentary verticalsectional view showing a modified form of the end lapping apparatus inwhich the lapping element is hydraulically actuated;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line9-9 of Fig. 1, through the column showing the three-point support andadjustment therefor;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, takenapproximately on the line Iii-10 of Fig. 9, through one of the adjustingscrews for the column; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, showingthe relationship of the lapping elements and the work cage supportingand driving mechanism.

A lapping machine has been illustrated in the drawings comprising a base10 which serves as a support for a lower lapping wheel 11. The base 10also serves as a support for a vertically extending column 12 having ahorizontally extending arm 13 which supports a vertically arrangedspindle 14. An upper lapping wheel 15 is supported by a mounting plate16 which is fixedly supported on the lower end of the spindle 14.

A suitable driving mechanism is provided for rotating the upper lappingwheel 15 at a suitable lapping speed such as, for example, approximately15 0 R. P. M. This mechanism may comprise a driving pulley 20 which maybe driven from any suitable source of power such as an electric motor(not shown). The pulley 20 is mounted on the left hand end of a shaft19, the inner end of which is connected through a clutch 21 with a driveshaft 22. The drive shaft 22 carries a worm 23 which meshes with a wormgear 24 mounted on the lower end of a vertically arranged shaft 25. Theshaft 25 is connected by a universal joint 26 with a telescopic driveshaft 27. The upper end of the telescopic shaft 27 is connected by auniversal joint 25 with a vertical shaft 29. The shaft 29 is supportedin bearings (not shown) carried by an adjustabl'y mounted bracket 39.The shaft 29 is provided at its upper end with a multiple V-groovepulley 31 which is connected by multiple V- belts 32 with a multipleV-groove pulley 33 mounted on the upper end of the spindle 14. Anadjusting screw 34 is provided to facilitate adjustment of the bracketrelative to the arm 13 to facilitate tensioning the V- belts 32.

The base 10 also supports a frame 35 which serves as a support for avertically arranged sleeve 36. The sleeve 36 is journalled inanti-friction bearings 37 and 38. A mounting plate 39 is mounted on theupper end of the sleeve 36 and serves as a support for the lower lappingwheel 11. The lower lapping wheel 11 is free to rotate and is notpositively driven.

A driving mechanism is provided for positively driving the work piecesthrough the machine comprising an electric motor (Fig. 5). The motor 45is provided with a pulley 46 which is connected by a belt 47 with apulley 48 on a speed reduction unit 49. The speed reduction unit 49 isprovided with a pulley 50 which is connected by a V-belt 51 with apulley 52 mounted on the end of a horizontally extending shaft 53. Theshaft 53 is provided with a worm 54 which meshes with a worm gear 55mounted on the lower end of a vertical shaft 56. A head 56a is keyed onthe upper end of the shaft 56. The upper plane surface of the head 56asupports a work cage 58 so that its underside just clears the face ofthe lower lap 11. The cage 58 preferably is rotated in a directionopposite to the upper lapping wheel 15 (Fig. 4). A stud 57 projectingupwardly from the shaft 56 engages a central hole in the cage 58 tocenter the same. The head 56a is provided with one or more offsetdriving studs 56b which engage holes in the work cage 58 to drive thelatter when the shaft 56 is rotated. The work cage 58 is provided with aplu- 3 rality ofradially arranged work receiving tapered aperturesornotches 59 formed in its periphery which are of a suitable size andshape to receive the tapered work pieces to be lapped. The notches orwork receiving apertures "59 are each provided with a substantiallyradial surface 59:: (Fig. 7), and anbpposed substantially radial sideface and a bottom face 590 which are spaced to clear the workpiece beinglapped. The surfaces 590 and 59b of the notches 59 are preferablyslightly non-r radial so that the axes of the work pieces 120 arepositioned radially relative to the cage 58. A stationary guide ring 60is fixedly mounted relative to the base 10 and surrounds the work' cage58. The ring is provided with a frusto-conical'internal guide face 61which engages the ends 'of the work pieces so as to maintain the workpieces in proper relation with the work cage during a lapping operation;'The guide ring 60 is supported by a circular frame 62 which is fastenedto the upper surface of the frame 35.

- lapped. The upper lapping wheel 15 is provided with a plane operativelapping face. The upper lapping wheel spindle 14 is preferably offsetfrom the axis'of rotation.

of the lower lapping wheel 11 by an amount equal to a little less thanthe difierence between the diameter of the work cage 58 and the upperlapping wheel 15. This distance of ofiset in the present instance isabout 4% and is determined by arranging the path'of the work to'travelacross the entire operative face of the upper lapping wheel 15 from theouter to the inner periphery and then to the outer periphery during itstravel'from the point of entry to the time of discharge.

The spindle 14 is rotatably journalled in a vertically adjustable sleeve63 in bearings not shown. The sleeve 63.is supported in a casing 64which is formed integrally with the arm 13 and the column 12. The sleeveconstruction above described has not been illustrated in detail sincethis 'is a common well-known arrangement such as, for example,that'shown in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,103,984 dated December 28,1937, to which reference may be had for details of disclosure notcontained herein.

.A stop mechanism is provided for limiting the downward movement of thesleeve 63 precisely to position the upper lapping wheel 15 relative tothe work cage 58 andthe lower lapping wheel 11. This mechanism maycomprise an adjustable stop screw 65 which is carried by a bracket 66.The bracket 66 is fastened to the outerperipheral surface of the sleeve63. 64 is provided with a projecting boss 67 which serves as a supportfor an adjustably mounted stop abutment 68. (Fig. 1). It will be readilyapparent from the foregoing disclosure that by manipulation of theadjustable stop screw 65, the lower or operative position of the npp'erlapping wheel 15 may be precisely adjusted to produce lapped work piecesof the desired and predetermined size. I

A counter-balance mechanism is provided for counterbalancing the weightof the upper lapping wheel 15 together with-its supporting and drivingparts to facilitate movement thereof. This mechanism may comprise rackteeth 69'formed on the periphery of the sleeve 63. The rack teeth 69mesh with a gear mechanism 70 which is in turn operatively connected tobe actuated by a counterbalance weight 71. This mechanism has not beendescribed in detail since it is not considered 'an essential part of thepresent invention. This counter-balance mechanismfis substantiallyidentical with that shown in my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,103,984, abovereferred to, to which reference may be had for details of disclosure notcontained herein.

A suitable fluid pressure operatedmechanism is pro- The casing vided formoving the upper lapping element to and from an operative position. Apair of diametrically opposed cylinders 72 and 73 are fixedly mounted ondiametrically opposite sides of the casing 64. The cylinders 72 and 73contain slidably mounted pistons 74 and 75 respectively which areconnected by piston rods 76 and 77 with a flanged plate 78 which isfastened adjacent to the lower end of the sleeve 63 (Fig. 2). providedfor supplying the necessary fluid for actuating the upper lappingelement. Fluid isdrawn through a pipe 81 by means of a motor drivenfluid pump 82 which forces fluid under pressure to a control valve 84.The control valve 84 is preferably a piston-type valve comprising avalve stem 85 having valve pistons 86, 87 f and 88 formed integrallytherewith. As shown in Fig.

2, fluid under pressure passing through the pipe 83 enters a valvechamber 89 located between the valve pistons 86 and 87 and passes outthrough a pipe 90 and through pipes 91 and 92 to cylinder chambers 93and 94 formed in the lower ends of the cylinders 72 and 73 respectively.Fluid'under pressure admitted to the cylinder chambers 93 and 94' causesan upward move ment of the pistons 74 and 75 so as to move the upperlapping wheel 15 to an inoperative position. During the upward movementof the pistons 74 and 75, fluid within the cylinder chambers 95 and 96may exhaust pipe 99 into avalve chamber 100 located between the valvepistons 87 and 88 and passes out through an .ex haust pipe 101 into thereservoir 80. When it is desired to cause a downward movement of theupper lapping wheel 15 to move it into an operative lapping position,-the valve stem 85 is moved downwardly so that fluid under pressurepassing through the pipe. 83 enters the valve chamber 100 and passesthrough the pipes 99, 98 and 97 into the cylinder chambers 95 .and 96simul taneously to move the pistons 74 and 75 downwardly to transmit acorresponding downward movement to the upper lapping wheel 15. Thedownward movement of the lapping wheel 15 continues until the stop screw65 engages the abutment 68 which precisely positions the upper lappingwheel 15 in a'predetermined operative position.

It is desirable to providesuitable adjustments so .that the desiredoperating pressure may be maintained in the fluid pressure system abovedescribed. This is preferably accomplished by providing an adjustablepressure relief valve 105 which is connected by a pipe 106.

with the pipe 83. Excess fluid under pressure within the pipe 83servesto open the valve 105 and pass through the pipe 107 into thereservoir 80.- In order-to provide.

A'suitable mechanism is provided for actuating the valve stem 85. Thismechanism may comprise a rock arm which is supported by a rock shaft116. A manually operable lever 117 is fastened to the rock shaft 116.The manually operable lever 117 extends toward the front of the machinewithin easy reach of the operator.

This improved lapping machine is arranged so that work piec'essuch astaper rollers 120 may be fed automatically into the machine andautomatically discharged therefrom after making a single pass betweenthe lapping wheels 11 and 15, A plurality of taper rollers 120 areloaded into a work loading chute 121 which is preferably arranged sothat the work pieces feed by gravity into the work receiving apertures59 formed in the periphery of the work cage 58. At the point of entry ofthe taper rollers 120 into a notch 59 of the work cage 58, a spring Afluid reservoir 80 is clip 122 holds the taper roller 120 against anytendency to lift. As the cage or work holder 58 rotates very slowing atapproximately 1 R. P. M., the taper rollers 120 have ample time to befed by gravity into an operative position. After the taper roller 120slides into a notch or aperture 59, continued rotation of the cagecauses the outer ends of the taper rollers 120 to slide along a cam face123 formed on the inner periphery of the guide ring 66 which is shapedso as to gradually complete the movement of the taper rollers 120 intothe notches 59. This feeding movement of the taper rollers 120 into thenotches 59 serves to force the rollers 120 gradually in between thethroat formed between the lapping wheels 11 and 15. A plate 124 isfastened to the guide ring 60 to hold the rollers 120 in position untilthey move into engagement with the operative face of the upper lappingwheel 15.

The lower lapping wheel 11 is preferably a very hard, dense, vitrifiedbonded abrasive wheel to facilitate maintaining the lapping face for anindefinite period in order to avoid frequent retruing operations. Thediameter of the lower lapping wheel 11 is preferably equal to therolling circle of the rollers to be lapped, so that the apex of elementsof the rollers coincides with the axis of rotation of the lower lappingwheel 11.

A frusto-conical face is formed adjacent to the outer periphery of thelower lapping wheel 11 which is beveled at twice the angle of taper ofthe taper rollers 12!! so that when the rollers are in operativepositions relative to the cage 58, the upper elements of the rollers 120will be positioned in a horizontal plane so that they may be lapped bythe lower plane face of the upper lapping wheel 15. The upper lappingwheel 15 is positively rotated at a speed of approximately 150 R. P. M.and the work holder or cage 53 is rotated at a very slow speed ofapproximately 1 R. P. M. The lower lap is free to rotate and is notpositively driven. Due to the arrangement of wheels 11. 1 3.5 the cage5d, the work to rotate the w holder notches 59' high s eed. Th". on therolle.s 120 serves to impart a rotary motion to the lower lapping wheel11. The speed attained by the lower lapping wheel 11 is not material.Due to the fact that the lower lapping wheel is rotated by rotation ofthe rollers 12:),

it will rotate at approximately the average speed of the rollers inmotion. As will be hereinafter described, the rollers 120 are rotated ata relatively high speed as they enter the lapping machine. The speed ofrotation of the rollers is reduced to approximately one-half the maximumspeed when the cage has rotated through 90". As illustrated in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings, work entering the machine from the loading chute 121enters a notch 59 in a direction substantially radial to the upperlapping wheel 15. When the roller 120 is in a radial position withrespect to the upper lapping wheel, it will be rotated at a speedapproximating the surface speed of the operative face of the upperlapping wheel 15. Due to the fact that the rollers are tapered, therollers 120 will be rotated at approximately a mean speed between theend portions thereof.

The axes of the work receiving apertures 59 are formed radial in thecage 58 and are radial with respect to the axis of the upper lappingwheel 15 at the loading position, that is, on the line A--B (Fig. 4). Asthe cage 58 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 4) through 90to shift the work apertures into position aligned with the line XY, theaxis of the work receiving aperture 59 shifts gradually from a radialposition to a maximum nonradial position with respect to the axis of'the upper lapping wheel 15, as shown diagrammatically by the line AC(Fig. 4). As the rollers 120 enter a notch or aperture 59 in the cage58, the rollers move in an axial direction along a radial line of boththe upper lapping wheel 15 and the cage 58. During the first 90 rotarymotion of the cage 58, the axes of the rollers 120 being lapped shiftfirst from a radial position to a maximum non-radial position withrespect to the axis of the upper lapping wheel 15 the non-radial anglebeing indicated by the lines A--C and XY. Due to the gradual shifting ofthe axes of the rollers 120 relative to the lapping face of the upperlapping wheel 15, a break-up motion is imparted which produces thedesired lapping action on the frusto-conical face of the rollers 120. Asthe cage apertures 59 move the rollers toward the position b, the speedof rotation thereof due to the breakup motion is somewhat decreaseduntil the roller reaches the position 12017 so that the axis thereofcoincides with the radial line XY.

As the cage 58 continues its rotary motion, the axes of the cageapertures 59 gradually shift from a nonradial to a radial position withrespect to the axis of the upper lapping wheel 15 as the apertures movetoward the line A D. During this motion, the break-up action between therollers 120 being lapped and the upper lapping wheel 15 is graduallyreduced and the speed of rotation of the rollers gradually changes asthe rollers approach the 18c position 120s so that their axes coincidewith the line AD (Pig. 4).

Similarly as the cage 58 continues its counterclockwise motion, the axesof the rollers 120 gradually shift from a radial to a maximum non-radialposition relative to the upper lapping wheel 15 as the rollers move fromline AD to AE. During this third 90 rotary motion of the cage, therotation of the rollers 120 is gradually decreased and the break-upaction increased until the rollers reach the position 120d in alignmentwith the line X-Z. Continued rotation of the cage 58 carry the workapertures 59 together with the rollers 120 supported therein fromposition 1260 into position 120a. During this motion of the cage theaxis of the apertures 59 and the rollers 120 being lapped graduallyshifts from a maximum non-radial to a substantially radial position withrespect to the axis of the upper lapping wheel 15. During this movement.of the cage, the speed of rotation of the rollers 12' is graduallyincreased the break-up is gradually decreased until the rollers reachthe discharge position 120a. Due to the slow rotation of the cage 58 andthe relatively fast rotation of the rollers 120, the rollers will beautomatically discharged from the apertures 59 in the cage 58 into adischarge chute 125. The rollers 120, being lapped, are graduallyshifted from radial to non-radial positions relative to radii of theupper lapping wheel 15 a plurality of times during a single pass throughthe machine, thereby producing an ever changing break-up action to lapthe rollers to the required and predetermined extent. The speed ofrotation of the rollers 120 being lapped is varied due to the break-upaction and is gradually decreased during the first 90 travel andgradually increased during the second 180 travel due to eccentricrelationship of the upper lapping wheel 15 relative to the lower lappingwheel 11 and cage 58.

The guide ring 69 is cut-away to receive the work loading chute 121 andthe discharge chute 125, the cut-away portion of the ring 60 beingsufficient so that the bottom surface of the chutes are aligned with thefrusto-conical face of the lower lapping wheel 11.

In lapping tapered work pieces such as taper rollers used in themanufacture of taper roller bearings, it'is desirable to not onlyprecisely lap the taper of the roller but also to uniformly lap andfinish the outer end face of the roller. As illustrated in the drawings,a lapping device is provided for simultaneously lapping the ends of therollers 128 as they pass through the machine. A bracket 130 is fixedlymounted on the frame 62. The bracket 130 serves as a support for aslidably mounted lapping element 131. The lapping element 131 ispreferably surrounded by a layer of plastic material 132 which serves toform a sliding surface on the top and bottom and side faces of thelapping element 131. The bracket position (Fig. 8).

.130 is provided with a rectangularly shaped aperture 133 within whichthe lapping element 131 slides in a substantially radial direction withrespect to the lower lapping wheel 11. As illustrated in Fig. 7, thelapping ele ment 131 is of sufiicient width so that a plurality ofrollers are in simultaneous lapping engagement therea with. A pluralityof compression springs 134 are provided yieldably to maintain thelapping element 131 in lapping engagement with the end faces of therollers '120. Due 'to the fact that the rollers 120 are rotated at arelatively fast speed as above described, a lapping action will beimparted by the stationary lapping element 131 so that as the rollers120 pass across the face of therlapping element 131 they will be lappedto a predetermined finish.

, In order to facilitate loading the work cage 53 when the machine isstarted, it is desirable to provide means ,for withdrawing the lappingelement 131 to an inoperative position. This may be accomplished bymeans of a rod'141rwhich.is.screw threaded or otherwise fastened to thelapping element .131 (Figs. 4 and 7). A manually operable nut 142 on theother end of the rod 141 serves a movement of the sleeve 150 relative tothesleeve 149. to

to facilitate withdrawing the lapping element 131 toward the right to aninoperative position.

If desired a second end lapping attachment a may be provided, which asshown in Fig. 4, is located at a operable nut 1420 (Fig. 4) are providedto facilitate withdrawing the lapping element 131a to an inoperative Iposition.

A modification of the end lapping attachment has been illustrated inFig. 8. A hydraulically operated means is provided for maintaining thelapping element 131 in lapping engagement with the end faces of therollers 120. This mechanism may comprise a cylinder 135 formedintegrally. with the bracket 130.. A piston 136 is slidably mountedwithin the cylinder 135. A piston rod 137 which is fixedly mounted withrespect to the piston 136 engages the right hand end face of the lappingelement 131. A compression spring 138 normally serves to maintain thepiston 136 in a right handend When it is desired to move thellappingelement 131 into lappinglengagement with the rollers 120, fluid .underpressure is admitted from a suitable source through a pipe 139 into thecylinder 4 illustrated in Fig. 9, the column is supported at threepoints by cap screws 145, 146 and 147. The screws 145, 146 and 147 passthrough an adjustable mounting V to be hereinafter described and arescrew threaded into the base 10 of the machine. As illustrated in Fig.10 the clamping-screw 147 passes through a cylindrical aperture 148formed in a sleeve 149 which is threaded on its outer periphery. Asleeve 150 surrounds the sleeve 149 and is provided with an internalthreaded portion 151'which meshes with the threadson the sleeve 149. Thesleeve 150 is provided with an integrally formed flange 152' having aplane surface 153 which engages a portion of the base 10. A sleeve 154surrounds the screw 147 and is provided at its lower end with clutchteeth 155 whichmate with correspondingly shaped clutch teeth 156 formedon the upper end of the sleeve 149.

,The sleeve 154 is providedwith an integrally flanged head 157 which isprovided with a plurality of radially extending holes 158 which may beengaged by a spanner wrench. If it is desired to raise the column at thescrew 147, the screw 147 may be loosened and by means of a spannerwrench the sleeve 154 rotated which in'turn transmits a rotary motion tothe threaded sleeve149. Rotation of the threadedsleeve 149 causes avertical raise or lower the column 12'as desired. After the de siredadjustment has been made, the clamping screw 147 may then be tightenedto clamp the column in position. The adjustments associatedwith clampingscrews 145 and 146 are identical with that just described in connectionwith screw 147. It will be readily apparent from' the foregoingdisclosure that by manipulation of one or more of these adjustments, thecolumn 12 may be adjusted to position the spindle 14 and the upperlapping wheel 15in the desired position with the plane operative asurface either parallel to or at a slight angle relative to.

the operative surface of the lower lappingwheel.

ft is desirable to provide a suitable truing apparatus for truing theplane operative face of the upper lapping wheel 15. A truing apparatus160 (Fig. 3) is provided. This truing apparatus is substantiallyidentical with that shown in my prior U. '5. Patent No. 2,082,736 datedJune 1, 1937 to which reference may be had for details of disclosure notcontained herein. 'The details of this truing mechanism have not beenillustrated or described since this feature is not considered to beatpart'of'the present invention. 7

It is desirable to provide a truing apparatus for truing afrusto-conical face on the lower lapping wheel 11 at a desired angle,namely, to twice the angle of taper of the rollers to belapped. Inasmuchas the lower lapping wheel is normally free to rotate and not positivelydriven, it is desirable to provide a suitable driving mechanism l fordriving the lower lapping wheel 11 during a truing operation. Thismechanism may comprise a bevel ring gear which is fastened to theunderside of the plate 39 which supports the lower lapping wheel 11. Asuitable driving mechanism is provided comprising a casing 166 which isbolted to the frame 62." This casing 166 supports a rotatable shaft 167having a bevel gear 168 mounted on its left hand'end (Fig.5). The shaft167 is rotatably journalled in a slidably mounted sleeve 169 which is'inturn supported in the casing 166. -A driving motor170 is pivotallysupported by a shaft 171 (Figs.

3 and 5). The motor 170 is provided with a sprocket 172 which isconnected by a link chain 173 with a sprocket 174 which is supported bya rotatable sleeve 175. The sleeve 175 is rotatably journalled in thecasing 166. The right hand end of the shaft 167 is slidably keyed withina central aperture formed in the sleeve 175. It will be readily apparentfrom the foregoing disclosure'that in the position of the parts as'shown in Fig.5; rotation of the motor 170 will be imparted through thedriving mechanism shown to rotate the bevel gear 168 which in turntransmits a rotary motion through the bevel ring gear 165 to the lowerlapping wheel 11.

It is desirable to provide a suitable means for disengaging the gear 168from the bevel ring gear 165 This mechanism may comprise a yoked member176 which i is supported on arock shaft 177. The yoked member 176 isprovided with diametrically. opposed studs (not shown) which engage agroove 178 formed in'a' flanged portion 179 of the sleeve 169. Amanually operable lever 180 is fixedly mounted on a rock shaft 181. Therock shaft 181 supports a rock arm. 182 which is connected by a pivotstud with a link 183. The other end of the link 183 is connected by apivot stud to the yoked member 176. When it is desired todisconnect thedriving gear 168, the control lever 180 may be rocked in a clockwisedirection to rock the yoked member 176 ina clockwise direction to slidethe sleeve 169, the shaft 167, and the bevel gear 168 toward the right(Fig. 5). it will thus be seen that by manipulation of the control lever180, the driving gear 168 may be readily meshed or disengaged from thebevel ring gear 165 to facilitate rotation of the lapping wheel 11during a truing operation.

A truing apparatus 185 for the frusto-conical surface of the lower wheelis fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the casing 166'. Thismechanism comprises a horizontally movable slide 186 which slides on asuitable slide-way 187 formed on'the truing fixture 185. An adjustingscrew 188 is provided to facilitate a transverse adjustment of the slide186. The slide 186 serves as a support for a pivotally mounted member189 which is pivotally supported about the axis of a clamping stud 190.-A rack bar 191 is fixedly mounted on the memher 189. A worm 192 isrotatably supported by the slide 186. A manually operable knob 193 isprovided for rotating the Worm 192 to swing the member 189 so as toadjust the path of movement of the truing tool as will 'be hereinafterdescribed. The member 189 is provided with a slideway 194 which servesas a support for a transversely movable slide 195. A manually operablefeed screw 196 having an actuating handle 197 is provided to facilitatea transverse adjustment of the slide 195. The slide 195 serves as asupport for a rotatable truing tool'spindle 198 which is journalled insuitable bearings 199 and 200. The slide 195 supports a vertica'llymounted electric motor 201 having a motor pulley 202 which is connectedby means of a belt 203 with a pulley 204. which is mounted on the upperend of the truing tool spindle 198. The spindle 198 supports a rotatableabrasive wheel such as a diamond wheel 205 having a plane operative facefor truing the desired frusto-conical surface on the lower lapping wheel11. The operation of this truing apparatus will be readily apparent fromthe foregoing disclosure. The member 189 is adjusted angularly relativeto the slide 186 to position the slide-way 194 so that the path ofmovement of the slide 195 Will determine the frusto-conical face to betrued on file lower lapping Wheel 11. After this angular adjustment hasbeen made, it is merely necessary to actuate the handle 197 to traversethe slide 195 thereby traversing the diamond wheel 205 across thefrusto-conical face of the lower lapping wheel 11.

The truing apparatus slide 186 is clamped in position by binder screws206 (Fig. 3). When the truing apparatus is not in use, the binder screws206 may be released and the slide 186 removed from the truing apparatusbase 185 until it is again desired to true the face of the lower lappingwheel 11. When the truing apparatus slide 186 is moved to an operativeposition it is moved toward the left on the slide-way 187 until themember 189 engages the adjusting screw 188 which determines the positionof the truing apparatus, during a truing operation. It will be readilyapparent'that by angularly adjusting the member 189, a frusto-conicalface of any desired angle may be trued upon the upper face of the lowerlapping wheel 11.

The operation of the improved lapping machine will be readily apparentfrom the foregoing disclosure. Assuming the lapping wheels 11 and 15 tohave been previously trued to the desired extent, and the lapping wheel15 is in a raised or inoperative position, the end lapping blocks orelements 131 and 131a are withdrawn to inoperative positions by means ofthe manually operable nuts 142 and 142a. A plurality of taper rollers120 to be lapped are placed in the work loading chute 121 and the motoris started to rotate the work cage 58 so as to fill all of the notches59 with taper rollers. The control lever 117 is then moved downwardly(Fig. 1) to shift the valve 84 and thereby admit fluid under pressure tocause the upper lapping wheel 15 to move downwardly into engagement withthe taper rollers 120. The micrometer stop screw 65 is then adjusted tocontact with stop abutment 68. The upper lapping wheel 15 is then raisedand the micrometer adjusting screw 65 is adjusted downwardly a slightamount such as .002. The nuts 142 and 1422 are then adjusted to releasethe compression of the springs so as to allow the end lapping elements131 and 131a to move into yieldable engagement with the end faces of therollers 120. The lever 117 is then again shifted to cause the upperlapping wheel 15 to move downwardly into operative engagement with therollers 120 to be lapped with the desired pressure applied after whichthe clutch 21 is engaged to start rotation of the upper lapping wheel 15and the motor 45 started to rotate the cage 58 thus starting the lappingoperation. The initial work pieces in the cage at the time the lappingoperation is started must be passed through the machine again since theywill not all be lapped to the desired and predetermined extent. Thelapping operation continues as long as the operator maintains the workloading chute filled with rollers 120 to be lapped.

If it becomes necessary to true the upper lapping wheel 15, the truingmechanism (Fig. 3) may be set in motion to true the operative face ofthe upper lapping wheel in a manner similar to that described inconnection with my prior U. S. Patent No. 2,082,736 previously referredto. If the lower lapping wheel becomes worn and a retruing is necessary,the slide 186 together with the associated parts may be slid intoposition on the slideway 187 into engagement with the adjustable stopscrew 188 after which it is clamped in position by means of binderscrews 206. The lever 180 is then rocked into the position illustratedin Fig. 5 so as to engage the bevel gear 168 with the bevel ring gearafter which the motor is started to rotate the lowerlapping wheel 11.Assuming the member 189 to have been previously set at the desired anglefor truing the frustoconical face of the lapping wheel 11, the motor 201is then started to rotate the truing wheel 205 which may be traversedacross the operative face of the grinding wheel by manual manipulationof the hand wheel 197.

After the laps have been retrued, a lapping operation may be resumed. inthe manner above described.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this inventionapparatus in which the various objects hereinabove set forth togetherwith many thoroughly practical advantages are successfully achieved. Asmany possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as manychanges might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to beunderstood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in theaccompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sence.

I claim:

1. In a lapping machine having a base, a vertical column thereon, anupper lapping wheel rotatably supported on said column having a planeoperative face, driving means on said base to rotate said wheel at alapping speed, a freely rotatable lower lapping wheel having afrusto-conical radial lapping face opposed to the operative face of theupper lapping wheel, a rotatable support therefor on said base, arotatable work cage between said wheels, a drive shaft rotatablysupported on said base to support and rotate said cage about an axisconcentric with the axis of the lower lapping wheel, a plurality ofradial work receiving apertures in said cage, said cage beingsubstantially the same diameter and concentric with the lower lappingwheel, a stationary guide ring on said base surrounding substantiallythe entire periphery of said cage having an internal cylindrical surfaceto maintain the work pieces in a concentric path relative to the lowerlapping wheel, a work loading aperture in said ring, an adjacent workdischarge aperture in said ring, said cage and lower lapping wheelhaving their axes substantially offset relative to the axis of the upperlapping wheel, and driving means on said base to rotate said cage at arelatively slow speed so that the radial axes of the cage aperturescause the axes of the work pieces being lapped to move in a continuouslychanging path relative to radii of the upper lapping wheel to providea-predetermined break-up and lapping action upon the work pieces beinglapped.

2..In a lapping machine as claimed in" claim 1, in

.7 combination with the parts and features therein specified, in whichthe radially-arranged work receiving apertures in said cage are arrangedto'move in'an eccentric path across the operative face of the upperlapping wheel, said cage apertures being radial relative to the upperlapping wheel at the work loading position, gradually i .the workpiecesbeing lapped. I

- 3." In a lapping machine as claimed inclaim 1, incombination'with theparts and features therein specified, in which the radially-arrangedwork receiving apertures in said cage are arranged to move in aneccentric path across the entire operative face of the upper lappingWheel, said cage-apertures being radial relative to the upper lappingwheel at the work loading station, gradually shifting to non-radialpositions and thereafter returning to radial positions a plurality oftimes during each rotation of the work cage so as to provide acontinuously changing work speed and break-up between the upper lappingwheel and the work pieces being lapped.

4. I In a lapping machine having a base, a vertical column thereon, anupper lapping wheel rotatably supported on said column, a planeoperative face thereon, driving means of the upper lapping wheel, arotatable support therefor 12 r r on said base, a rotatable work cagebetween said wheels, a drive shaft rotatablysupported on said basefto.support and rotate said cage concentric ;.with the axis of the lowerlapping wheel, a plurality of radialwork receiving 7 apertures formed'inthe periphery. of said cage,'said cage being substantially the samediameter and concentric'with the lower lapping wheel, a stationaryconcentric guide ring on said base surrounding substantially the entireperiphery of said cage to maintain the work pieces in a concentric pathrelative to the lower lapping wheel, a

work loading chute passing through said ring, a work discharge chutepassing through said ring, and driving means on said base to rotate saidcage slowly, said cage and lower lapping wheel having theiraxessubstantially off-set relative tothe axisof the upper lapping wheel sothat' References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,605,178

Doane Nov. 2, 1926 1,609,269 Player Nov. 30, 1926 1,893,100 Norton Jan.3, 1933 1,97 6,035 Purvin Oct. 9, 1934 2,082,736 Indge June 1, 19372,103,984 Indge Dec. 28, 1937" 2,241,351 Indge et al.. May 6, 19412,341,825 Spicacci Feb. 15,v 1944 Hutchinson Sept. 20, 1949

